The president, convinced that national security depended on it, ordered secret, warentless wiretapping to be carried out against suspected enemies. Without it he feared successful acts of terrorism. His attorney general gave the president assurances that he could engage in the practice because his intentions were to protect Americans. Could the president use information gained from eavesdropping for political purposes? Well, perhaps. But he had the best intentions...Meanwhile the president warned Americans of dangerous foreign agents hidden in American society plotting to destroy them.
The president was Franklin Roosevelt, fearing defeat in the 1940 election and secretly plotting with Winston Churchill to enter World War II.
Source: Michael Beschloss, "Presidential Courage."
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